Effect of plasticizers on the properties of sugar palm nanocellulose/cinnamon essential oil reinforced starch bionanocomposite films

This work examines the effects of plasticizer type and concentration on mechanical, physical, and antibacterial characteristics of sugar palm nanocellulose/sugar palm starch (SPS)/cinnamon essential oil bionanocomposite films. In this research, the preparation of SPS films were conducted using glycerol (G), sorbitol (S), and their blend (GS) as plasticizers at ratios of 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 wt%. The bionanocomposite films were developed by the solution casting method. Plasticizer Plasticizers were added to the SPS film-forming solutions to help overcome the fragile and brittle nature of the unplasticized SPS films. Increasing plasticizer contents resulted in an increase in film thickness and moisture contents. On the contrary, the increase in plasticizer concentrations resulted in the decrease of the densities of the plasticized films. The increase in the plasticizer content from 1.5 to 4.5% revealed less influence towards the moisture content of S-plasticised films. For glycerol and glycerol-sorbitol plasticized (G and GS) films, higher moisture content was observed compared to S-plasticised films. Various plasticizer types did not significantly modify the antibacterial activity of bionanocomposite films. The findings of this study showed significant improvement in the properties of bionanocomposite films with different types and concentrations of plasticizers and their potential for food packaging applications was enhanced.

Sandwich-Structured, Hydrophobic, Nanocellulose-Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol as an Alternative Straw Material

An environmentally friendly, hydrophobic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film was developed as an alternative to commercial straws for mitigating the issue of plastic waste. Nontoxic and biodegradable cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and nanofibers (CNFs) were used to prepare PVA nanocomposite films by blade coating and solution casting. Double-sided solution casting of polyethylene-glycol–poly(lactic acid) (PEG–PLA) + neat PLA hydrophobic films was performed, which was followed by heat treatment at different temperatures and durations to hydrophobize the PVA composite films. The hydrophobic characteristics of the prepared composite films and a commercial straw were compared. The PVA nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced water vapor barrier and thermal properties owing to the hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces between the substrate and the fillers. In the sandwich-structured PVA-based hydrophobic composite films, the crystallinity of PLA was increased by adjusting the temperature and duration of heat treatment, which significantly improved their contact angle and water vapor barrier. Finally, the initial contact angle and contact duration (at the contact angle of 20°) increased by 35% and 40%, respectively, which was a significant increase in the service life of the biodegradable material-based straw.

Gas Transport Characteristics of Mixed Matrix Membrane Containing MIL-100 (Fe) Metal-Organic Frameworks and PEBAX Precursors

In this research, the effect of adding MIL-100 (Fe) MOFs on the PEBAX membranes has been scrutinized in two grades of 1657 and 2533. Initially, the intended membranes were synthesized by the solution-casting method. Then, the XRD and SEM were applied to deliberate the influence of adding MIL-100 (Fe) to the structure of both types of membranes. In consequence, the separation function of the pair gases of CO2/CH4، CO2/N2 and CO2/O2 and their permeability were considered at the pressure of 3.5 bar and temperature of 25°C. Eventually, their function was compared by Robeson diagrams of 1991 and 2008. The comparison results by Robeson diagrams indicated that the PEBAX1657/MIL-100 (Fe) and PEBAX2533/MIL-100 (Fe) membranes containing 5 wt.% of MOF represent more suitable performance in separating CO2/CH4 in comparison with the axis of the Robeson diagram. However, their function for separating the aforementioned gases requires more modifications.

FTIR spectroscopy characterization and critical comparison of poly(vinyl)alcohol and natural hydroxyapatite derived from fish bone composite for bone-scaffold

This paper presents the interaction comparison of poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) with hydroxyapatite derived from Spanish Mackerel (SM) and Whitefin Wolf Herring (WWH) bones, in different processing method. PVA filament and solution casting method illustrated higher crystallinity in the FTIR graph as compared to the PVA pellet and filament extrusion method. Besides, minimal interactions between PVA with glycerol and HAp was observed as well. PVA pellet and solution casting method portrait higher interaction as compared to the PVA filament and extrusion method. As for the HAp of SM and WWH, WWH had higher crystallinity and better cell adhesion with a higher Ca/P ratio while SM had relatively better mechanical strength with Ca/P ratio near to stoichiometric value. The loading of HAp (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30%) does not affect interactions of PVA/HAp composite in FTIR, and thermal properties in TGA. However, it caused an increase in crystallinity at low HAp loading and decreased at higher loading of HAp above 10%. Upon addition of HAp, tensile strength increased and elongation at break decreased. As the loading of HAp increased, both mechanical properties decreased. Scaffold with WWH composite possessed lower tensile strength and higher elongation at break than SM composite. The result of mechanical properties corresponded to the SEM result. ANOVA analysis justified the effect of HAp variations and loading on the mechanical properties of the composite was prominent.

Karakteristik Poli Asam Laktat Glikolat (Kajian Rasio Asam Laktat Limbah Aren-Asam Glikolat)

Polimer Poli Asam Laktat Glikolat (PLGA) merupakan salah satu jenis polimer yang telah disetujui FDA dan EMA untuk penggunaan biomedik. Kelebihan PLGA yaitu biokompatibilitas, biodegradabilitas, fleksibilitas, dan efek samping yang minimal. PLGA telah dikembangkan untuk penggunaan medis namun pemenuhannya masih berupa impor. Oleh karena itu, pada penelitian ini monomer asam laktat dari limbah pati aren dan asam glikolat dengan rasio LA:GA = 75%:25%; 90%:10%; 95%:5%; direaksikan secara Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) dengan bantuan katalis Sn(II) Oktoat membentuk PLGA. PLGA hasil kemudian ditambahkan PVA, dengan rasio PLGA:PVA 3:2; 3:3; 3:4; dan 3:5 dengan metode solution casting membentuk film. Penelitian dilakukan secara eksperimental dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) faktorial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya kombinasi rasio LA:GA dan rasio penambahan PVA mempengaruhi karakteristik film PLGA. Hasil kekakuan dan Modulus Young film PLGA tertinggi pada kombinasi penambahan rasio LA:GA = 75%:25% dan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA =3:4. Biodegrabilitas film PLGA terbaik pada kombinasi penambahan rasio LA:GA 90%:10% dan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA 3:4. Film PLGA memiliki biokompatibilitas yang baik pada semua rasio LA:GA, dengan penambahan rasio PLGA:PVA lebih dari 3:2. Hasil film PLGA memiliki morfologi permukaan paling halus pada rasio penambahan PLGA : PVA 3:2, dan memiliki struktur semi kristalin.Lactic Glycolic Acid Polymer (PLGA) is a type of polymer that has been approved by the FDA and EMA for biomedical use. The advantages of PLGA are biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, and minimal side effects. PLGA has been developed for medical use but fulfillment is still imported. Therefore, in this study, the lactic acid monomer from waste palm starch and glycolic acid with a ratio of LA: GA = 75%: 25%; 90%: 10%; 95%: 5%; reacted with Ring Opening Polymerization (ROP) with the help of a catalyst Sn (II) Octoate to form PLGA. The resulting PLGA was then added with PVA, with a ratio of PLGA: PVA 3: 2; 3: 3; 3: 4; and 3: 5 with the solution casting method forming the film. This research was conducted experimentally with a factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The results showed that the combination of LA: GA ratio and PVA addition ratio affected the PLGA film characteristics. The results of stiffness and Young's Modulus of PLGA film were highest in the combination of addition of the ratio of LA: GA = 75%: 25% and the addition of the ratio of PLGA: PVA = 3: 4. The best PLGA film biodegradability was combined with the addition of the ratio of LA: GA 90%: 10% and the addition of the PLGA: PVA ratio 3: 4. PLGA film has good biocompatibility in all LA: GA ratios, with the addition of a PLGA: PVA ratio of more than 3: 2. The results of the PLGA film had the smoothest surface morphology at the ratio of addition of PLGA: PVA 3: 2, and had a semi-crystalline structure.

Filler Dependent Microstructural and Optical Properties of PVDF/PEG Blends Versus PVDF/GO Nanocomposites

The micro-structural features and the optical properties of polymer blends (PB) of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) base with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polymer nanocomposites (PNC) of PVDF base with graphene oxide (GO) as fillers are compared. Different weight fractions of PVDF/PEG and PVDF/GO samples were prepared through solution casting followed by spin coating. The microstructure of PVDF/PEG and PVDF/GO shows formation of immiscible/compatible/ homogenous microstructures over different extents of loading of the filler components. UV-Visible spectrometry revealed an increase in absorbance with the amount of filler and the absorbance was found to be lesser and highly dispersive for the PB as compared to PNC, attributed to the heterogeneity/electrical conductivity of the respective fillers of the two systems. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to study the various optical constants (e.g. refractive index, extinction co-efficient, etc.) & their dispersion behavior over the visible range of wavelengths. The parameters show large variation as a function of component fillers due to the different extent of interaction of matrix/filler. The optimized parameters were obtained for the 20% PB & the 5% PNC samples respectively, suggesting PNC with nano fillers are always to be a better choice for developing them as materials suitable for various optical applications.